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Events Kyle Texas

Veterans Day in Kyle, TX

This Friday is Veterans Day, a day of remembrance and honor for those who have served in the military during war or peace. This is a national opportunity to say thank you to all those who served in the military, both living and those who have passed. 

 

A History of Veterans Day

 

The earliest beginnings of Veterans Day go back more than 100 years. When World War I officially ended with the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919, it was a sigh of relief for the entire world. The fighting that claimed 20 million lives had ended seven months earlier when an armistice went into effect on “the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.” 

 

A year later, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson made November 11 Armistice Day, declaring it a national opportunity for the country to “be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service…”

 

The day would take on even greater importance following the tragic loss of life and displays of heroism in World War II and the Korean War. Following the end of the Korean War in 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower changed Armistice Day to Veterans Day to acknowledge the sacrifice made by veterans of all U.S. wars. 

 

Celebrate Veterans Day in Kyle

 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are over 2,800 veterans who call Kyle home, and this Veterans Day is a particularly special one. It’s the city’s first Veterans Day to celebrate Heroes Memorial Park. The park has been open since its official ribbon cutting on September 11th and it’s a truly beautiful place for residents to come together and reflect upon the sacrifices made by veterans, first responders, and other heroes in the community. The park features a Heroes Walk, Memorial Garden, Activity Lawn, Arrival Portal, and other elements for learning more about our heroes. 

 

Just as parades were a part of those first celebrations of Armistice Day, the tradition of the Veterans Day Parade continues this year in Kyle. The parade will happen on November 12 this year at Gregg-Clarke Park and travel along Center Street, before coming to a conclusion at Front Street on the City Square. The parade itself will begin at noon, but there will be lots of festivities happening earlier in the day. 

 

Residents are invited to come out to Mary Kyle Hartson Park before the parade to enjoy live music and family-friendly activities from 9 AM until 2 PM.

 

The Veterans Day Parade is one of the many community events that make Kyle such a wonderful place to call home. If you’re looking for a place to raise your family or find the perfect balance of peace and convenience, Crosswinds is a great place to settle down. Crosswinds is a master-planned community in Kyle that offers residents a variety of family-friendly amenities and beautiful homes from the area’s top builders. To learn more about finding your home here, reach out to the Crosswinds team.

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Design Homeowner Tips

Prepping Your Home for Fall

Pumpkin spice products are on the coffee house menus, Halloween decorations are on store shelves, and the kids are back in school. Summer is officially in the rearview mirror and autumn is in the air. 

 

From getting your home and yard in shipshape to keeping the kids busy and active on those perfect fall weather weekends, here’s a rundown of how to prep for the season. 

 

September:

 

Organize the garage: Okay, so cleaning out the garage isn’t exactly a fun way to start the season. There’s a good chance, though, that with so much happening over the summer months it could use a little sprucing up. 

 

Youth sports: Fall youth sports leagues such as soccer, football, and hockey often have their first practices and games in September. The City of Kyle’s youth sports page has a full list of sports available through the parks and recreation department to help your kiddos stay active and have some fun on those crisp fall evenings. 

 

Scout out fall decorating trends: There’s more to fall decorating than throwing a couple of pumpkins on the porch and calling it a day (not that there’s anything wrong with that). Warm earthy tones, woven baskets, and textured fabrics and textiles are on-trend fall designs to watch for in 2022. Hit your local thrift shop or favorite home goods store now to start sprucing up your space for the season!

 

October: 

 

Dig in the dirt: More specifically, now’s an ideal time to plant bulbs for spring flowers such as tulips. October is also an ideal time to fertilize and reseed patchy areas of your lawn or put a new shrub in the ground, plus, as the mornings and evenings start to cool down, spending time outside is a must!

 

Reverse your ceiling fan: Has your ceiling fan been on non-stop since July? Well, turn it off for a minute and reverse it. By setting your ceiling fan to spin clockwise in the cooler months (rather than counter-clockwise in summer) it will move warmer air trapped at the top of the room downward. 

 

Check windows for leaks: Most parts of the United States get more rain in the winter months than they do in the summer – Texas included. Now is the ideal time to check for any leaks in your windows and doors to keep heat in and rain and drafty weather out. 

 

November

 

Check your smoke detector battery: Checking your smoke detector battery is one of those things you know you should do, it’s just remembering to do so that is the tricky part. That’s why it’s recommended that when you set your clock back with the end of daylight savings (November 6th!) you also check your smoke detector’s battery. 

 

Clean the gutters: Cleaning the gutters of leaves and other debris that has built up over summer and fall will help prevent problems like rot along your roofline. 

 

Dig your winter clothes out of storage: Sure, the Texas heat hasn’t sent its goodbyes quite yet, but it’s now probably safe to put away the board shorts and tank tops and break out the scarves and sweaters—if not for cooler temps, at least for the sentiment. 

 

There’s a lot to love about fall in Kyle and it’s one of the best times to move to Crosswinds. Our community is past the earliest stages of development with established neighborhoods, infrastructure, and residents, yet we are still evolving to include new amenities and new homes to welcome you to the neighborhood.

 

If you’d like to learn more about finding a new home here this fall, contact our team to learn more about our available homes, exceptional schools, and  

Categories
Events Family Fun

Kyle’s Pie in the Sky Day Celebration

What’s that up in the sky? It’s a bird? It’s a plane? It’s a… nope, not Superman. It’s a fleet of hot air balloons! 

 

It’s time for the Kyle Pie in the Sky Hot Air Balloon Festival. Whether you come out to see the hot air balloons or your main focus is eating as much pie as possible, this is one end-of-the-summer event that you’re not going to want to miss!

 

Pie in the Sky 101

If you’re new in town or have simply never heard of this pie-themed hot air balloon festival, allow us to fill you in. The festival has only been around a few years, but since the first festival in 2017, it’s proven to be popular with residents as it gives folks a chance to see more than a dozen hot air balloons inflate and take to the skies, as well as enjoy a variety of pies from the savory to the sweet. 

 

When and Where?

All the pie-eating and balloon action happens on Saturday, September 3 from 12 to 8 PM. While in previous years the event has taken place at Lake Kyle, this year’s festival has been moved to Gregg-Clarke Park (1231 W Center Street) due to construction at Lake Kyle.

 

Entry to the event is completely FREE, and while there is a limited amount of free parking, there will be on-site paid parking available. Free shuttles will also be running to take attendees from nearby St. Anthony’s Church to the event. 

 

An even better alternative may be to leave the car at home and take advantage of UberKyle. The program is available through the City of Kyle phone app and includes a voucher for just $3.14 that allows for a trip anywhere within the Kyle city limits. 

 

Balloons, Pie, and so Much More

A sky full of colorful hot air balloons may be the big draw, but they’re hardly the only reason to mark this event on your calendar. A vendor market will be set up where guests can peruse and purchase local crafts as well as food and drink. And speaking of food, pie is on the menu in a big way at this festival. 

 

Dozens of pies will be available to try and there will even be a pie-baking contest for home bakers who think they might have a blue ribbon-worthy recipe. Previous festivals have included some irresistible pies with names like Rainbow Balloon Pumpkin Pie, Dark Side Chocolate Fudge Pie, and Chinese New Year Pineapple Pie. 

 

There will also be pie-eating contests, live music, and a play area for the kiddos to run around and burn off some energy. For guests who want to get a view of the action from up above, tethered hot air balloon rides will be available. Who knows, maybe you can even have your pie in the sky. 

 

The Pie in the Sky Festival is just one of the many aspects that makes Kyle such a great place to live. If you’re interested in finding a home here, connect with the Crosswinds team today. 

 

Categories
Area Attractions Lifestyle

California Beverage Company Relocating to Kyle, TX

It seems like not a month goes by these days without news headlines announcing another company is planting roots in the Lone Star State. From tech companies such as Oracle and Hewlett Packard to beverage companies like Pabst Brewing, and everything in between, at least 50 Fortune 500 companies and growing have moved operations to Texas. 

 

Another California company is planning a move to Texas, and this time, we’re thrilled to learn Kyle will be home to its corporate headquarters! Gov. Greg Abbott recently shared the news that Sovereign Flavors, a beverage flavoring company, will be relocating its headquarters from Orange County, California to right here in Kyle. 

 

“Sovereign Flavors’ relocation to the Lone Star State is great news for the people of Central Texas…,” Abbot said. “More and more innovative businesses like Sovereign are moving to Texas because of our world-class business climate, diverse workforce, and endless avenues of opportunity for all Texans to succeed.”

 

The flavoring development company has created over 4,000 flavors for beverage brands sold at Target, Kroger, and Publix among other grocery stores. David Ames, president of Sovereign Flavors, said that the company was “honored to join Texas’ strong business climate.” The beverage flavoring company’s move into an 80,000-square-foot facility is only the most recent example of Kyle’s “strong business climate” and upward economic growth. 

 

Being only 7 miles from Austin and 39 miles from San Antonio, Kyle is geographically located perfectly for businesses. And while at one time 80% of Kyle’s population left the city limits for work, that’s rapidly changing as more businesses set up shop within Kyle

 

One of those businesses, for example, is Alsco commercial laundry. The city of Kyle worked with Alsco to provide the right business conditions for a 96,000-square-foot facility. “[The city leaders] were open, honest, and so easy to deal with and responsive to our needs,” Alsco’s general manager Anthony Wessels explained. 

 

Kyle’s business-friendly environment is proving to be attractive to businesses both big and small too. Owners of La Ola Pop Shop, Julian and Paulina Hernandez opened a new location in Kyle because of the visible economic growth. “Kyle is a town that I feel like is booming,” Julian said. “Everywhere you look you see construction, [and there’s] lots of families here.” 

 

It was only a decade ago that Kyle was just a small-town suburb of Austin. Today, however, it’s the fifth fastest growing city in Texas, and it currently has 2.5 million square feet of business space under development. Kyle has clearly evolved from a commuter suburb to a city coming into its own as a place to live, work, and play. 

 

If you’re interested in finding a home in Kyle’s newest planned community, reach out to the Crosswinds team today. 

Categories
Homeowner Tips Lifestyle

Should Seniors Buy a Newly Constructed Home or an Older Home?

The average retirement age is 62 according to an article from Experian quoting a Gallup 2021 survey. It’s a great age as seniors are vibrant and can still enjoy many activities. It’s also an exciting time because many decide to downsize their home as they may not need as much space.

But the question they’re asking themselves is whether to buy a newly constructed home or an older home? The benefits of a new home outweigh an older home. This is the time to enjoy life. While the benefits are many, here are the top four benefits of buying a new home.

  1. Customize Your Home Your Way

If the home hasn’t been built, you can work with the home builder to make changes to fit your preferences. If the home is being built, you can have a say in the materials, colors, and flooring. The more involved you are in making decisions to personalize your home, the fewer changes you’ll want to make. 

A used home may have a great floor plan, but some of the rooms have kitchen counters, colors, and flooring that may not be to your liking. This will add to the cost of the home.

  1. Ensure the Home Is Accessible

Many homes come with stairs including single-story homes. They may have steps on the porch or in the back of the house. It’s possible there may be steps from the garage to the house. You use your home every day and one or two steps can become a problem. 

If you have family members who use a wheelchair, you can make sure the home is built with wide doorways and low countertops. Very few older homes considered this in the design. Some may have a low ceiling and shower entry, which is a problem for taller people. 

  1. Enjoy Minimal Maintenance

An older home will have wear and tear that leads to problems. Appliances only last for so long. The water heater may be nearing the end of its life. If something happens, it will cost time and money to replace it. The same goes for the air conditioning and heating system. When you buy new, you won’t have to worry about problems for years.

  1. Benefit from Energy Efficient Features

Older homes have outdated features that may cause the heating and air conditioning system to be inefficient. This drives up energy costs. Newer thermostats allow you to program the heater or air conditioner to kick on or off at set times. 

The house can contain energy-efficient appliances to use less electricity. LED lighting lasts longer and uses less energy than older lights. All these steps will help keep your energy bill down. 

Seniors have worked hard and should relish every minute of their retirement. Buying a new home will make that possible.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Meet the Kyle home builders or contact our Crosswinds team

Categories
Area Attractions Family Fun

Life in Kyle: EVO Entertainment

EVO Entertainment Kyle is much more than a movie theater and it’s right here in Kyle. You’ll find everything you want in a movie theater and then some. The Kyle location of EVO Entertainment offers the movie theater experience with enhanced viewing, restaurant and bar, bowling, video and redemption games, and more than 50 HDTVs.

Not Your Typical Movie Experience

The enhanced viewing experience, or EVX, contains a massive wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling screen. It’s complemented by an immersive Dolby ATMOS moving audio and state-of-the-art projection technology.

EVX takes surround sound to the next level, as it produces sound you can feel. Attendees will find themselves feeling as they are in the action as the film comes to life. Not all EVO venues offer this feature and Kyle is fortunate to be one of them. 

The location also has Flashback Cinema where you can catch old favorites on the big screen. You can even host your own private screening party and choose from any film currently showing at the Kyle EVO Entertainment or bring your own movie on Blu-Ray.

More Fun Things to Do at EVO Entertainment

The bowling center is also not your typical bowling alley as it offers an extraordinary bowling experience. The bowling lanes use the latest bowling technology with sleek audio and visuals, lane-side food and drink service from the kitchen, and a modern aesthetic. 

If you go bowling there, be sure to watch for hidden orange pins! If the orange pin shows up in the kingpin position (the front), contact a team member to watch you bowl. If you bowl a strike with the orange pin in front, you’ll score a $100 game card!

You can experience virtual reality in a new way in the OMNI VR Arena. It’s a four-person virtual reality gaming and e-sports experience. Players can safely walk and run in the virtual landscape. The arena has a vast library of multiplayer games including non-violent ones. EVO has weekly and monthly e-sports tournaments where players can try to win prizes.

There’s a room full of all kinds of video games. And all day every Wednesday, they have half-price games. If that’s not enough, there’s free WiFi and more than 50 HDTVs!

They plenty of delicious grub to keep you satisfied. Once again, this isn’t your ordinary entertainment food with plain burgers and pizza. No, they have things like honey sriracha tacos, chicken pesto flatbread, pulled pork nachos, and more. They even have bottomless popcorn. You can go with traditional butter or add a flavor like garlic parmesan or spicy ranch. Beer, wine, cocktails, and margaritas are available for those of appropriate age.

It’s definitely a place for all ages. For the latest, check out the EVO Entertainment Kyle Facebook page.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Meet the Kyle home builders or contact our Crosswinds team.

Categories
Family Fun

Top 5 Holiday Side Dish Recipes

This time last month, we shared our top three Thanksgiving side recipes, and while those are still great holiday side dish recipes, Crosswinds in Kyle, Texas decided that we wanted to share a few more to stay in the giving spirit of the holidays.

Sweet Potato Casserole

Top 5 Holiday Side Dish Recipes

(Image via allrecipes.com)

You can never go wrong with a casserole during the holidays. Plus, as far as holiday side dish recipes go, casseroles are fairly straightforward. One of the biggest holiday food staples is sweet potatoes, especially when you use this yummy sweet potato casserole recipe that’s sure to have your guests wanting to lick the dish clean.

Skillet Cornbread

Top 5 Holiday Side Dish Recipes

(Image via countryliving.com)

A forever staple, especially here in the south, cornbread is the perfect side dish to please everyone. Take your cornbread up a notch by cooking and serving it straight from a skillet. Since cooking it is a little different with a skillet, we recommend this delicious recipe for buttery skillet cornbread.

Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes

Top 5 Holiday Side Dish Recipes

(Image via allrecipes.com)

Some people may just know these as “cheesy potatoes,” but when they’re done correctly, they can be so much more! When it comes to holiday side dish recipes, these creamy au gratin potatoes may be as cheesy or cheesier than the ultimate mac and cheese we shared last month.

Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus

Crosswinds_12.21.17-04

(Image via damndelicious.net)

Hands down the easiest of all our holiday side dish recipes, this prosciutto wrapped asparagus only calls for two ingredients and only takes about 10 minutes to create! You’ll definitely want to make sure to get plenty of extra ingredients. We have a feeling you may be getting requests for second and thirds with this one!

Black-Eyed Peas

Top 5 Holiday Side Dish Recipes

(Image via foodnetwork.com)

An old, old tradition in the south for New Year’s is to eat a bowl of black-eyed peas for good luck into the next year. So to help you have an excellent 2018, we’d suggest enjoying some black-eyed peas. Now as for how you specifically cook then, here are a few different recipes for black-eyed peas.

We hope you have a phenomenal rest of your 2017. It’s not too late to find your dream home at Crosswinds in Kyle, Texas! Contact us to come tour our master-planned community today, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay on top of community developments and news.